THE city has united behind the Journal campaign against Wiltshire Council’s massive hike in parking charges.

Almost 2,000 readers have sent in protest forms. Another 524 have signed up online via Spire FM, which has also offered its support, and even more have signed up to our Facebook page.

Three organisations representing more than 500 businesses have written to Wiltshire’s chief executive Andrew Kerr calling for one-hour parking to be reinstated “sooner rather than later” at a cost of £1.20.

City Centre Management, the Chamber of Trade and the Federation of Small Businesses warned him firms are reporting a slump in trade of more than ten per cent, which they attribute directly to the parking price hike in April, and that closures could be the result.

They also urged the council to cut Sunday parking to £1, have pay-on-exit machines installed and extend the park and ride opening hours to meet commuters’ needs.

As yet they have had no reply.

But it’s not only small firms feeling the squeeze.

Sainsbury’s manager Paul Jones said: “Along with other city centre retailers we just don’t understand why the council has made this change and we are doing everything we can to persuade it to reconsider.

“Two-hour minimum parking is keeping customers away from the city and, as a vibrant city centre in the best interests of customers, retailers and the council itself, we urge it to bring back one-hour parking.”

A second Tory councillor representing Salisbury has admitted it was a mistake to support the price hike.

Two weeks ago cllr Richard Clewer said he had “misjudged”

the impact.

Now, cllr Bill Moss has said councillors outside the ruling Cabinet “had to take the word” of transport portfolio holder Dick Tonge that Salisbury city council and City Centre Management had approved the rises, when they say they had not.

He said cllr Tonge should hold another, more wide-ranging public consultation.

“Money has to be found or saved somewhere,” he said, “but it doesn’t necessarily have to be from parking.

“It could be through other council charges instead, for example.”